Christmas 2010 - unwrapping presents

Here is a quick video of the babies opening their presents on Christmas morning.  I (Tim) tried to consolidate 5 minutes of video into about a minute and half, so I played with more advanced video editing.  I kept the most "exciting" parts and sped up the video 2X.  (Although, its probably too fast...) 

Christmas 2010

Kennedy and Graham's first Christmas!  We've been looking forward to this since before they were even born, so this was a highly anticpated time of year for our family.  It was a busy few days, but we all had so much fun!  Here are a few pictures of the babies enjoying their first Christmas! 

First on the list of celerations was Christmas Eve service with Granmda and Grandpa Short and Great Grandpa Bill.  Happy Birthday Jesus!  Graham and Kennedy really enjoyed the music.

Kennedy and Graham ready for church on Christmas Eve

Aren't we cuties?

On Christmas morning we all woke up to lots of presents under the tree.

Oh my Goodness!  Yesterday we were waiting for Santa, and he brought us lots of presents!

We must have been very good this year!

Wow, this toy is awesome, we want to play with it now!

Later Christmas morning Grandpa Don, Grandma Kim, Great Grandpa Short, Uncle Chris, Aunt Megan (and Amelia Bug!) came over to celebrate and help us open more presents.  Santa stopped at their houses, too!

Woohoo!  Watch out, we've got wheels now!

Later on Christmas we went to Grandma and Grandpa Horstmann's house to eat dinner and open even MORE presents!  We got to spend time with Grandpa Glenn, Grandma Diane, Great Grandma Dorothy and Great Grandpa Len, Sister Mary Loran, Aunt Becca, Uncle Chris and baby Abigail, Aunt Theresa, Uncle Steve and Jacob! 

Family picture at Grandma and Grandpa Horstmann's house-

it's been a long day!

the little cuties with Great Grandpa and Great Grandma Aubuchon

Ready for more presents!

Whew!  It was a couple of days packed with family and fun, but that's just the way we like it.  Now we can't wait to play with all of our toys!  Merry Christmas!

Waiting for Santa

We're being very patient!  Do you see his reindeer and sleigh?

Oh Santa, we've been very good this year.  Please don't forget our house!

Visit with Santa

Here is a picture of our first visit with Santa.  No crying this year.  : )

Pump... And Dump

Today I stood at the sink and watched lots of hard agonizing work being swept down the drain.  We had a freezer full of breast milk from march and April- these were from the days I felt tied to the pump, the days I felt like all I did was pump and feed the babies.  Looking back, those days are all a blur now. I don't remember details, but I do remember those first weeks being hard.  There may have been other ways for us to do it... I could have tried breastfeeding them both a little longer.  But we felt it would be too hard, and Tim wanted (bless him) to help feed them when he was home.  I could have just not given them breast milk at all, but I wanted to try.  I remember hooking myself up to the machine at 1:00 in the morning while I was simultaneously feeding one of the babies with a bottle of milk I had pumped earlier, trying to keep my eyes open because I was so exhausted.  I remember sitting on the couch, in between both infants in boppy pillows, pumping just before I took turns feeding them both because I was home by myself while Tim was at work.  I remember the hardest day ever, when Graham screamed all day long and I decided it was time to try a day of only formula to see if that would help.  I remember how grateful I was that the next day Graham seemed better, and being so thankful that Kennedy was so patient with both of us.  The bittersweet feeling when we decided to go to all formula (I wouldn't have to pump anymore!  but I wouldn't get to feed them breast milk anymore either)  I'd fed them with my milk for 7 weeks. So while I weaned myself off the pump, we saved all of the milk and stored it, hoping once Graham's stomach issues were better we could start incorporating my milk into their food again.

I felt like I was letting them down since I couldn't feed them with my own milk anymore, but I kept telling myself it was best for them AND me.  And they'd gotten the benefits of 7 weeks, after all!  But I was torn- freedom and feeling like a bad mom.  Anyway, into the freezer it all went.  When they started eating veggies and fruits, we added some of the frozen milk to their food, and it was good... until November 24.  That was the day before Thanksgiving when I went with Graham to the Urgent Care Center.  We don't know where he got the bug that laid him low for over 48 hours, but a few weeks later Kennedy came down with the same symptoms.  By this time, the milk in the freezer was over 6 months old and could have been the underlying cause of them getting sick, so we made a decision to dump it. 

I had tears in my eyes and I dumped over 135 ounces of milk down the drain.  The babies eat about 25 ounces of formula a day, so that is more than 2 DAYS WORTH OF MILK!  Not only that, they are no longer true infant babies- they are so independent and don't need me anymore!  Well, at least not for my milk anyway. 

But there's no use in crying over spilled dumped milk.

9 months!

Can you believe the babies are nine months old already? 

So what have they been up to lately?  Well, so glad you asked!  Kennedy is developing quite a vocabulary for a 9 month old... she says "hi dat," "mamama," "bah-bye," and "hi Kah" (hi K?).  And lots of other sounds that we enjoy hearing.  She has such a sweet voice!  She's also started pulling up on stuff- like the entertainment center!  She's taking after Graham for sure.  She pulls herself along the floor-it looks like she's doing the breast stroke.  We may have a little swimmer on our hands! 

Graham is getting closer and closer to walking.  He cruises around the coffee table like a pro, and has been caught standing by himself a time or two.  He's started saying "bah-bye" and does a little sideways-wave along with it.  And then he claps when you sing "If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands!"  He also claps any time he is proud of himself!

What have WE been up to lately?  Why, running around after them, of course. :)

Guess Who?

Can you guess which one is mommy and which one is Kennedy?  : )

Eatin' Puffs

A couple of months ago, we had the babies try puffs for the first time.  Lets just say that experience didn't go to well.  Graham kept gagging on them.  Then a few weeks ago, we decided to try again.  It took them a few days, but now they are pros at feeding themselves. 

This Year I am SO Thankful

There are so many things in my life that I am thankful for, it's hard to even begin to list them all!  But I can try :)

My beautiful, funny, sweet, adorable, lovable, crazy-fun babies Graham and Kennedy
My husband...
Pediatricians that take last-minute appointments
Amoxicillan
       ...and while we're at it, Gastric Reflux medicine and Pediatric GIs
Snuggly pajamas
An amazing husband that does more than the lion's share around the house so I can spend time with my babies
Hamburger Helper
Leftovers
Slobbery kisses from the kids! 
A wonderful job that lets me revel in my inner science nerd, and maybe rub off on the young, impressionable minds of my students a a little bit?
My super husband who understands that my job isn't 9-5... It's 5-9 + weekends :(
Itty-bitty socks that go on itty-bitty toes
My babies' smiles when I walk in the door, or make a funny face, or just because I'm Mommy- their smiles are delicious
Cool whip- yep, I can eat the whole tub by myself.
Four parents who are excited about being grandparent, love to babysit, and any other excuse to spend time with their grandchildren
My sweet new niece Abigail and one on the way- Amelia Bug!
Plus our nephew Jacob, who is growing so fast!
Children's.Tylenol.
My sewing machine that is collecting dust- I have lots of projects for you!
Baby soft skin and snuggles at bedtime
Sweet puppies that love me no matter how I neglect them
Buddha bellies just after mealtime, those round, healthy baby bellies thatare so kissable!
My elliptical machine that never lets me down
Jillian and Bob, who enjoy working me to death via DVDs
Fantastic friends, new and old
That amazing smell of baby just after they get out of the bathtub
Belly laughs that Tim can get out of them when he kisses their cheeks with his whiskery-face.  I love those laughs, they are contagious!
Our babysitter, who loves my kids almost as much as I do
A plethora of Christmas decorations waiting patiently to come out of their boxes.  Woohoo!
Vera Bradley- all her stuff is so cute but my absolute fave is Java Blue (please don't ever retire it!)
"Sleeping in" one day a week
Getting to watch my Graham and Kennedy learn new things- they are such smart little ones
My husband who loves me regardless of all my imperfections


P.S. What I am NOT thankful for this Thanksgiving: nasty viruses that make my little man have a fever, diarrhea, and feel all around miserable.  Or double ear infections that make my sweet little girl crabby and just not herself :(

Movin' around - 8 months

A lot has been happening with the babies over the past few weeks.  They sure aren't just laying around anymore.  Kennedy has learned how to bounce and is army crawling all over the place.  She is starting to try to pull herself up also.  Graham is walking along objects like a pro.  He may be walking on his own by Christmas...

Check out the video below.  We think the music fits perfectly.  : )

Family Pics - 8 months

Two weeks ago, we had a family friend of Heather's take some family pictures for us.  Previously, we've had Tim's aunt Lucy take pictures and she always does such a fabulous job, but we feel bad asking her to drive all this way every time.  : )  The day was gorgeous, and the pictures turned out great.  Except for the fact that Kennedy did NOT want to sit down by her self.  Check out some of our favorites below.

8 months old!

Happy 8 month Day to our babies!  You guys are so amazing, you make us laugh every day.  You are so much fun to hang out with... the best parts of our days are coming home to spend time with you.  We can't wait to continue to watch you grow and be your wonderful selves- but don't grow up too fast, please! 

we're getting so big!

literally LOL!

Such a happy girl!  This is Kennedy's mood most of the time.

This past month they have continued to amaze us.  Kennedy is starting to rock on all fours and scoots across the floor like she's swimming.  She'll be crawling any day!  Her teeth continue to grow- she looks like a piranha :)  And she's starting to talk.  Yesterday she said "hayda!" looking at Tim.  Our loose translation is "hi dad!"  Graham is our little active man.  He mastered crawling and moves across the room in seconds.  Now he's pulling himself up on the couch, coffee table, anything that is sturdy basically!  He's up and down, bouncing off one thing then the next.  Now that he's standing with the support of something, he can "walk" along it in his little shuffle steps.  It's hard to keep up with both of them!  Oh, and he's just like Daddy- his favorite electronic toy is the remote control. 

Twins interacting - 7 months

It's fun to see the twins starting to interact with each other.  Its always random...  Sometimes, they could care less whether the other one is there, but at other times, they just talk and smile at each other.  We finally were able to catch some moments on video - both the good and bad...

Welcome Abigail Horstmann!

Monday evening, Tim's younger brother Chris and his wife Rebecca welcomed into this world their daughter, Abigail Annette Horstmann.  She is a beautiful baby girl, just perfect.  They both intended to keep the sex of the baby a surprise, which they successfully did, so we didnt know whether it would be a boy or girl.  Come to find out - Chris couldn't wait so he found out at their last ultrasound a few months ago, but Becca didn't want to know.  He did such a good job of keeping it a secret.  Kennedy, Graham, and our newphew Jacob have a new cousin to play with!  Congrats!

 Aunt Heather holding Abby for the first time

Sweet little girl... 

Uncle Tim holding Abby for the first time 

Proud Daddy!

Proud Mommy!  Abigail is checkin' you out with her big eyes!

We are so proud of Rebecca and Abigail- we love you!

Halloween 2010

This year was the babies' first Halloween, so you know we had to dress them up - even though they were too young to actually go trick or treating.  Graham was a monkey (of course) and Kennedy was a lady bug.

Monkey Graham

Lovin the banana 

Lady Bug Kennedy

We stopped by a few houses in the neighborhood to show them off.  : )

Dad even carved a very special pumpkin.  Can you guess who this is?

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Its Kennedy!

Graham crawling and pulling up

Graham has gotten so much more mobile over the past few weeks.  He is crawling with no problem - and he's getting fast.  He is also wanting to get into things that he isn't supposed to, such as mommy and daddy's shoes or the dog's toys.  We've found him a couple of times on the verge of grabbing a bone and putting it in his mouth.  Copper and Casey need to learn how to pick up after themselves.  : )

This week, he learned to pull himself up.  This video doesn't do it justice.  He can stand up for about 1-2 minutes at a time while holding onto that bouncy. 

Kennedy isn't crawling yet, but she is good at rolling and pivoting on her stomach.  It wont be long for her...

7 months and random pics

The babies are 7 months old.  Kennedy has caught up with Graham in size, has 2 teeth and is rolling all over the place!  She is a sweet girl and is usally Miss Patience.  Graham is already crawling- he's a man on the move!  He smiles all the time, and it seems like his tummy troubles are a thing of the past (knock on wood...)   (Old pics - 1 month, 2 months, 3 months, 4 months, 5 months, and 6 months.)

Here are some random pics that we love:

"Daddy, I'll getcha!"

such a rough life

chillin' in the park

such a diva in those shades!

The Pumpkin Patch!

When Heather was younger, it was a tradition to go to Rombach's Pumpkin Patch in Chesterfield Valley and pick out Halloween pumpkins.  It was one of the best parts of Halloween!  So this year, we've started a new tradition... taking OUR kids to Rombach's!  They were fantastic and were along for the ride.  It was a little chillier than forcasted, and it was pretty windy in the valley, but they didn't complain.  (Hello, fall in St. Louis!)  They let us pose them and take a million pictures.  We promised them that next year they'd have even more fun because they could play on the fort and ride the ponies... But for now, we think they had fun just looking around. 

Graham trying to eat the pumpkin- sorry buddy, not yet!

Hey Dad, check out this straw stuff!

 Do I even need to say anything?  Adorable, right?

family portriat

Great Grandpa Bill with the munchkins

The field of Ginormous Pumpkins

Our sweet girl Kennedy... such a happy girl!